Hogg out: youngest DNC vice chair ousted

Congratulations David Hogg: the youngest ever DNC vice chair has earned the honor of serving the shortest term in the committee’s history.

Though his tenure was brief, Hogg managed to rattle many cages. After his election, the 25-year-old announced a $20 million plan to primary older Democratic incumbents in safe seats running for reelection. This plan quickly generated backlash within the party: veteran Democratic strategist James Carville called it “the most insane thing” he’s ever heard. Hogg stood his ground and suddenly the DNC deployed its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion requirements. That included one more woman and one fewer Hogg. Cue various facile jokes about his name:

Central to the ousting is Native American Kalyn Free, 61, who lost her bid and proceeded to file a complaint arguing the election was “fatally flawed” and “violated the DNC Charter and discriminated against three women-of-color candidates,” as Semafor reported.

The committee announced Wednesday afternoon they had voted 294-99 in favor of holding a new election for two of the vice chair seats, which had been occupied by Hogg and his counterpart, Malcolm Kenyatta (another man). This new election set for June 17 guarantees the DNC two massive wins: an even tighter equality – sorry, equity – between the sexes, and the removal of an interloper pushing for real change in how the committee operates.

With Hogg not running in the second election, Kenyatta will by default take the remaining male-designated seat. But Hogg is not going gentle into that good night. In a lengthy Wednesday night X thread, Hogg said he stands by the views which led to his DNC removal.

He cited the party’s 27 percent approval rating and said, “If we don’t show our country how we are dramatically changing and provide an alternative vision for the future as a party, we will continue to lose.” Hogg will work with his organization, Leaders We Deserve, to rid the party of “Democrats dying in office that have helped to hand Republicans an expanded majority.”

While it looks like the Hogg controversy is wrapping up neatly, Cockburn sees the claw marks his ouster has on the party – particularly the party leader. Ken Martin, the DNC’s acting chair, told other party leaders that infighting with Hogg left him unsure about his ability to lead the party, according to a report in Politico Sunday.

“I’ll be very honest with you, for the first time in my 100 days on this job… the other night I said to myself for the first time, I don’t know if I wanna do this anymore,” Martin told DNC officers in a May 15 Zoom meeting.

The vice chair continued, “No one knows who the hell I am, right? I’m trying to get my sea legs underneath of me and actually develop any amount of credibility so I can go out there and raise the money and do the job I need to to put ourselves in a position to win.” Martin then turned his attention to Hogg. “And again, I don’t think you intended this, but you essentially destroyed any chance I have to show the leadership that I need to. So it’s really frustrating,” he said.

Will Martin be able to straighten out his sea legs? Or will the Democrats remain in Hogg Hell?